Man had pulled knife before

The man accused of stabbing a police officer nearly to death in a grocery store Tuesday threatened a neighbor with butcher knives two years ago and spent months in a state mental hospital.

And, just two months ago, Steven Anthony Eberhart's own attorney asked a judge to order treatment, but the judge said he never got the paperwork.

Released from jail in October, Eberhart allegedly attacked off-duty Athens-Clarke police Sgt. Courtney Gale on Tuesday in the Alps Road Kroger, pinning the 31-year-old officer to the floor and stabbing her over and over until customers and the manager intervened.

Gale remained in critical condition Thursday night at St. Mary's Hospital.

Eberhart is held without bail at the Clarke County Jail on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, aggravated assault and felony obstruction of a police officer.

Two years ago, on Oct. 21, 2005, Eberhart held a large butcher knife in each hand when he went after a neighbor during an argument at the Parkview Homes public apartment complex, police said.

Eberhart pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and received 12 months of probation with the condition he submit to a mental evaluation and treatment, according to court documents.

He failed to report to his probation officer and a local mental health agency, Advantage Behavioral Health Services, according to a petition to revoke probation.

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PDF: The police report from 2005 involving Steven Eberhart:

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When Eberhart was arrested again in January 2006 for refusing to leave an Oconee Street soup kitchen, Clarke County State Court Judge Kent Lawrence tacked on another 12 months of probation and ordered him to continue mental health treatment.

Eberhardt didn't comply, and in March 2006, Lawrence ordered sheriff's deputies to take Eberhart to Georgia Regional Hospital in Augusta for a psychological evaluation and treatment.

He remained hospitalized until May 18 of this year.

Eberhart was arrested for another probation violation Aug. 6, and two months later, Lawrence gave Eberhart credit for time served and ordered him released from jail.

But Eberhart's own attorney had asked that he receive a mental evaluation before jailers released him.

Lawrence says he never got that motion.

The attorney, public defender Benjamin Pearlman, filed a motion with the Clarke County Superior Court clerk's office Aug. 17, asking Lawrence to order an evaluation and treatment at a state mental hospital.

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PDF: The police report filed following the Tuesday night assault:

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Eberhart suffers some mental problems that could cause him to have a "delusional compulsion," Pearlman said in the motion.

But Lawrence said he never got the request and ordered jailers to release Eberhart on Oct. 17.

"I was not aware that the motion for mental evaluation had been filed with the clerk of court," Lawrence said Thursday.

Clarke County Superior Court Clerk Beverly Logan said she "has no explanation" why Lawrence never saw the request for a mental evaluation.

"When motions are filed, we place them in the judges' baskets - that's procedure," she said.

Lawrence released Eberhart because the man had served his time in jail, he said, and the evaluation report from the state mental hospital said Eberhart didn't pose any risk.

"There was nothing in the history of this man except for two misdemeanor convictions," the judge said. "There was nothing to indicate that he was a threat."

Though Gale's condition has improved, she has a long way to go, Police Chief Jack Lumpkin said Thursday.

Gale lost a massive amount of blood, and doctors probably saved her leg through several surgeries on damaged arteries, according to Lumpkin, who said Gale's condition had "improved."

"There remains some serious concerns regarding the immense blood loss that Courtney experienced, but we have tremendous faith that she will also conquer that hurdle," the police chief said in an e-mail to county employees. "She is slowly responding to physical stimulus. This could improve in the next hour, day, week or month. Keep her in your prayers."

County employees and residents showed their support to the wounded officer by coming out in droves to donate blood, according to a representative of the American Red Cross Southern Region.

Blood drives are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 8 and 9 at the Athens-Clarke County Police Department on Lexington Road.